Prince George’s County school group pushing to take back control

WASHINGTON – A local education group in Prince George’s County is fighting to prevent the state takeover of its school system.

The Washington Post reports David Cahn, co- chair of Citizens for an Elected Board, told the board of education last week that the group will start a petition drive to prevent the takeover.

The group needs 8,000 signatures by May 31 to block the law from going into effect. It is also trying to collect enough signatures to bring the issued to a referendum in November. They would need 25,000 to take it to a vote.

The Post reports Citizens for an Elected Board, the teachers union and the Prince George’s chapter of the NAACP are opposed to County Executive Rushern Baker’s school takeover plan.

Under the proposed plan the school board would be expanded. The county executive would appoint three new members of the school board and name the chair and vice chair, as well as choose the county’s new superintendent.